Model, still without the name "Viper" so as not to displease purists, will have track aerodynamics and should receive the V8 Hellcat inherited from the Ram 1500 Rumble Bee
Dodge is working on the spiritual heir to the legendary Dodge Viper: called the Copperhead, the high-performance coupe will be the new symbol car of the SRT division and was presented during the event in which Stellantis detailed its resumption plan — which foresees the global launch of more than 100 new or renewed models in the coming years.
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The information was anticipated by the American magazine Car and Driver, which had access to a model of the car. The publication describes a long, low and elegant two-door coupe, derived from the STLA Large platform, the same as the new Dodge Charger muscle car. The bodywork favors track aerodynamics, with an “S”-shaped duct on the hood and a central bulge that cuts out the engine vault.
To ensure dynamic efficiency, additional ventilation openings have been installed on the bonnet and behind the rear wheels, with the function of cooling the brakes. The rear is dominated by a large airfoil, reminiscent of that of the Viper ACR. The proposal positions the Copperhead on the same path blazed by rivals such as the Ford Mustang GTD and the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1.
Although the technical specifications remain confidential, the exhaust tips visible at the rear confirm that the Copperhead will keep the combustion engine under the hood. The market’s bet is that Dodge will resort to the supercharged 6.2 Hellcat V8 — recently brought back for the Ram Rumble Bee edition, in which it delivers 777 hp. In some reports, the SRT version of the Copperhead should exceed 800 hp.
The choice of name is symbolic. The original Viper had a naturally aspirated V10 8.4, architecture retired by Stellantis. Copperhead, named after an American viper, had already named a Dodge concept in 1997 — a smaller, cheaper brother to the Viper. Now, it evokes the coupe without arousing purists. The debut is expected in the 2029 model year.
